Osteopathic treatment or adjustment device



Oct. 29, 1935. F. KOENIGKRAMER ETAL 2 OSTEOPATHIC TREATMENT OR ADJUSTMENT DEVICE Filed Sept. 12, 1932 g 5 Fran/r lloem 'qkramer Frederic/r Koen g'alrramer 1N VENTOR 25 BY I A Tram 5m Patented Oct. 29, 1935 UNITED STATES ATENE' OFFEE OSTEOPATHIC TREATMENT OR ADJUST- Frank Koenigkramer DEVICE and Frederick Koenig- 8 Claims.

This invention relates to a physicians treatment or adjustment stool.

Objects of the invention are, to provide an improved and highly effective means, comprising not more than three body straps, whereby a patient undergoing treatment may be held more securely in a desired position, upon a seat or table, than has heretofore been possible with the use of a greater number of straps and associated means; to provide a simplified and inexpensive, yet more effective, means for accomplishing the foregoing object; to provide an arrangement of holding means whereby the patient undergoing treatment will be comfortably supported although the lower portion of his body is held more securely than in devices heretofore employed for the same purpose; to provide means in connection with a device of the character under consideration, for contracting centerwardly, rather than spreading, the lower extremities of the innominate bones (tuberischii) and the tissues of the buttocks, it having been discovered that this manner of securing or anchoring greatly facilitates and enhances the treatment administered, and enables the operator to apply his treatment with greater certainty and more specifically to the areas needing treatment or correction, than has been possible heretofore. The foregoing and other objects are attained 30; by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig l is a fragmental perspective View of the improved device, with the various anchoring or securing straps removed.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the stool or table portion with the straps arranged thereon. Fig. 3 is a fragmental detail view showing in plan ahip securing strap forming part of the 4 invention.

9? 'Fig l is a fragmental plan view of a lower body contracting strap forming a part of the invention. I

The device of the invention comprises a ro- 45 tatable seat or table member 5 for supporting a A? patient in a sitting position,said seat member being vertically adjustable through the medium of a hydraulic lift apparatus indicated generally by the character 6. The seat has fixed at opposite sides I and 8 thereof strap engaging members 9, I0, I l 'and'lZ which may be in the form of common buckles or structures equivalent thereto. The securing means preferably consist of the four above-mentioned elements each of which is 55 spaced several inches from the front and rear I4 and [5, respectively, of the seat member 5. As

is most clearly indicated in Fig. l, a form of ladder or foot rest I 6, and an anchor member I! are provided for certain purposes to be set forth hereinafter. The base or pedestal portion 6 is adapted to be securely mounted upon a floor or other supporting surface, so as to impart such rigidity to the structure as is necessary to preclude wobbling or vibration of the device when in use.

Means are provided for anchoring or securing 'the pelvis, buttocks, hips and upper part of the 10 patients limbs or thighs in a substantially rigid or fixed position upon the table member, so that the physician or operator may apply corrective manipulations or movements to the patients spine, ribs, and torso above the pelvic bones 15 (innominates and sacrum). Said anchoring means is of such a character as will permit the operator to swing that part of the patients body which is above the pelvis, in various ways and in such a manner that will tend to restore normal 20 function or movement in the various articulations of the spinal vertebrae, ribs, lumbo-sacral and sacro-iliac joints and other parts of the body above the hip region. Said means includes a body contracting strap comprising a seat portion I1 and strap members l8 and I9 which extend from opposite ends of the seat portion so as to constitute, in effect, an elongated individual securing means such as is illustrated in Fig. 4. The outer ends of each strap portion l8 and I9 may be provided with a series of openings 20 adapted to cooperate with the securing means or buckles 9 and It which are disposed at the rearward side portions of the seat member. The opposite end of each strap is stitched, riveted, or otherwise secured to the ends of the intermediate portion H, as is indicated at 2t. It will be understood, of course, that the strap ends which bear the openings 20 may be made imperforate when buckle members not requiring strap perforations are employed. It is to be observed that the body contracting strap l'l-i8i9 is put to use by placing it atop the seat and at a location slightly rearwardly of the rearmost buckle members 9 and I0, whereupon the patient is seated directly 45 upon the portion H in such a manner that the lower portions of the innominate bones (tuberischii) rest upon the strap portion H. The strap members I8 and i9 thereupon are brought up and around the patients hips and across the 50 thighs, and are crossed over to the opposite sides and securely fastened or buckled. The free end of strap IB is held by rearmost buckle 9 and the free end of the strap 19 is held by the opposite rearmost buckle Hi. It will be seen, then, that u the lower extremities of the innominate bones (tuberischii) to compress the tissues of the buttocks and draw the upper parts of the patients limbs snugly together, rather than to exert a purely downward pressure thereon that would tend to spread the flesh of the buttocks outwardly toward the seat edges. By pulling up on either strap E8 or is, the operator may dispose the lower portion of the torso in any position he may deem desirable for performance of the contemplated treatment or adjustment.

It has been discovered that the foregoing manner of securing or anchoring greatly facilitates and enhances the treatment administered, and enables the operator to apply his treatment with greater certainty and more specifically to the areas needing treatment or correction than has been possible heretofore.

In association with the member |l--l8-l9, there is utilized a second strapping device which consists essentially of the anchoring straps 22 and 23 each of which has connection with a substantially triangular back support or intermediate connecting member 2Q that has a hook 25 or other suitable fastening device disposed at one vertex thereof for engagement with the fastening member or eyelet ll supported by the end face of the seat member 5 (Fig. 1). preferably is located at or near the rear edge of the seat substantially midway between the sides I and 8 thereof. By hooking the members 25 and I! together, the connecting member 24 may be disposed, relative to the seat portion 5 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2. The strap members 22 and 23 are adapted to secure the buttocks firmly down upon the stool or seat, particularly the sacrum and the innominates, and at each side of the patient the straps extend up and around the lower portion of the patients body beneath the rim of the upper crest of the ilium, on each side. For purposes of definition, the crest of the ilium may be stated as being the upper part of the innominate bone. The straps are then extended or crossed over the patients lap or thighs and may be secured in the buckles or fastening means II and 12 at the front portion of the seat in accordance with the illustration of Fig. 2. In this manner, the back and sides of the pelvic girdle are securely positioned or fixed, thereby preventing undue movements of the parts when movements or manipulations are carried out, by the operator on the parts of the patients body above the pelvis. To provide for maximum comfort of the patient, suitable soft pads 26 may be applied to the straps 22 and 23 in the region of the hip bone-s, and as indicated in the drawings, said pads may be slidable along their respective straps.

The fact isnot to be overlooked, that the rear ends 226 and 232 of the straps 22 and 23, respectively, are adjustable relative to the connecting member 24. This adjustment enables the operator to pull up on the straps at either the forward or rearward end, thus enabling him to fix his patients body in the most advantageous position for reception of the particular treatment the patients body requires. Although said adjustment at the location 24 is illustrated as consisting of buckles 2'3 and 28 at adjacent apices of the triangular member 24, it is to be understood that other forms of strap holders may be employed, if desired. It is to be understood further that this invention contemplates extension of the straps l8 and i9 forwardly to the foremost buckles H and I2, and engagement of the free The member I! the action of this strap is to bring pressure upon ends of the straps 23 and 22 with the rearmost buckles l0 and 9, respectively. The first described method of securing, however, is deemed preferable.

The ladder or step device I6, which depends 5 downwardly from the rear portion of the seat member, includes a plurality of rungs or steps 29 and 30, which enable the operator to rest his foot while applying his knee to the spine in specific areas. The application of the knee to 10 these areas establishes points of local fixation in the spine and other areas of the patients body, leaving both hands of the operator free formanip ulating the spine and torso. The vertical adjustment of the seat or supporting member 5 is of considerable value, as it enables the operator to secure the proper height which enables him to apply his leverages and corrective movements more advantageously, and more specifically to the areas nee-ding treatment or correction. As stated 20 before, the vertical adjustment of the column or pedestal 6 may be effected by means of an hydraulic lift or any other well known expedient. The handle 3| may be utilized to actuate a clamping nut 32 for clamping the seat member against 25 rotation upon the column 6 when the device'is in use.

What is claimed is:

1. A treatment or adjustment device for sup-. porting the human body in predetermined posie 3o tions, comprising in combination a table member having sides and front and rear portions, secure. ing means located at the rearward region of each side, and a body contracting strap having an in: termediate portion, upon which the patient is. placed in a sitting position, said strap beingdlse' posed upon the table transversely thereof, ad? jacent to the rear portion of the table member, said strap including free end portions of suflicient.

length to be engaged and held by said securing 0* means at the rearward region of the sides.

2. A treatment or adjustment device for sup: porting the human body in predetermined post-: tions, comprising in combination a table member having sides and front and rear portions, 526111: a ing means located at opposite sides of the table member, a body contracting strap, having an in: termediate portion, upon which the patient is placed in a sitting position, said strap-being. disposed upon and atop the table transversely there: 50'- of from one side portion to the other, said. strap including free end portions of sufficient length. to be crossed upon one another over the patients thighs and engaged and held by the opposed se,-

curing means, and hip-engaging strap lengths ll each adapted for fixation at the forward and rearward portions of the table member and crossing one another forwardly of the body contract: ing strap.

3. A treatment or adjustment stool 1,01. sup- 00' porting the human body in predetermined positions, comprising in combination a table mem: ber upon which a patient may be placed in a sitting position, means substantially encircling the humanbody and adjustable to exert a. 60111. 68

tractive pressure upon the tuberischii or lower extremities of the innominate bones, which 1'63 sults in compressing the tissues of the buttocks to draw snugly together the upper parts of 111.18 natients limbs, said means comprising a longitudi: 70 nal strap having a middle section upon whichthc patient sits, and means exerting a downward force upon the hips and thighs of the patient.

4. A treatment or adjustment stool having; in combination a vertically adjustable seat membr II having front, rear,'and side edges, a multi-stepped ladder depending from the seat member in the region of the rear edge thereof, strap fasteners supported by the seat member adjacent to the side edges, and a member adapted for fixation at the rear of the seat member and including a sheet having straps diverging therefrom at substantially ninety degrees angularity.

5. A treatment or adjustment device for supporting the human body in predetermined positions, comprising in combination a table member having sides and front and rear portions, a body encircling and contracting strap having an intermediate portion upon which the patient is placed in a sitting position, said strap being disposed transversely of the table member from one side to the other, said body encircling strap including free end portions of suflicient length to be crossed upon one another over the patients thighs, means for adjustably fixing each free end portion of the strap relative to the patients body, hip-engaging strap lengths arranged each to pass over one hip ind the opposite thigh, in crossed relationship, and adjusting means including anchor members for varying the tension of the hip-engaging strap lengths at both ends of each strap length.

6. A treatment or adjustment means for supporting the human body in a predetermined position for treatment or adjustment, said means comprising a body-supporting seat, and a bodyencircling strap having a middle portion upon which the patient may sit, means for tightening the strap about the lower part of the torso entirely below the hips of the patient to exert a contractive force upon the body along a line below the hips and transversely of the thighs, and a pair of straps secured to the seat, one strap being positioned to contact one hip and the opposite thigh of the patient and the other strap being positioned to contact the other hip and the thigh opposite thereto, and means for securing said pair of straps relative to the seat and for tightening said straps in the above stated positions.

'7. A treatment or adjustment means for supporting the human body in a predetermined position for treatment or adjustment, said means comprising a body-supporting seat, a body-encircling strap having ends, and an intermediate portion, the intermediate portion being placed below the buttocks transversely thereof and entirely below the hips of the patient, means for tightening said strap to exert a contractive force upon the body along a line encircling the thighs and lying in a substantially vertical plane when the patient is seated upon the intermediate portion of the longitudinal strap, and means for independently anchoring the hip and middlethigh regions at opposite sides of the body-supporting seat.

8. A treatment or adjustment means for' supporting the human body in a predetermined position for treatment or adjustment, said means comprising a body-supporting seat, a body-encircling strap having long ends, an intermediate portion on the strap adapted to be placed upon the seat transversely thereof for contacting the buttocks of a patient seated upon the seat, and

means for securing the strap ends at opposite sides of the seat in a tightened condition after disposition of said ends over and entirely across both thighs in opposite directions, to render the thigh region completely encircled by the longia5 tudinal strap.

FRANK KOENIGKRAMER. FREDERICK KOENIGKRAMER. 

